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SABC Sport has been informed that a ruling on whether Kaizer Chiefs can finally use midfielders Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman is expected from the arbitrator early next week.
The duo were signed months ago on free transfers from Cape Town Spurs after a long-running dispute over their contract status.
While the Premier Soccer League Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) declared them free agents, Spurs escalated the matter to SAFA arbitration in the hope of overturning the decision and securing transfer fees for the players.
Spurs’ situation stems from their relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship in May, which under NSL rules allows contracted players to leave immediately as free agents once their clubs drop to amateur football.
Chiefs took advantage of the ruling, as did several other Betway Premiership clubs, snapping up Spurs players without paying any money.
Velebayi and Baartman have yet to debut for Amakhosi, with Chiefs reluctant to risk fielding them while the case remains unresolved.
Chiefs, like several other Premiership clubs, took advantage of the ruling to secure Spurs players without paying fees.
Velebayi and Baartman have yet to debut for Amakhosi, with the club reluctant to risk fielding them until the matter is resolved.
SAFA have since appointed senior advocate Hilton Epstein as arbitrator, with both legal teams making submissions this week as the issue reaches boiling point.
Epstein, aware of the urgency, is expected to deliver his judgement by next week.
If the ruling favours Chiefs, both players can be cleared for action immediately.
But if Spurs succeed, the players’ contracts at Naturena would be rendered null and void, and the Urban Warriors would then be able to sell them back to Chiefs or anywhere else at a price they deem fit.
For Baartman, currently at the FIFA U20 World Cup with Amajita, and Velebayi, the decision is career-defining.
